Pokimane, one of the most identifiable online personalities, has openly revealed the shocking amount she spends each month on security to stay safe. The celebrity online personality, Imane Anys, confirmed that she is spending over $10,000 a month on security to protect herself from the growing threats that come with being a celebrity online.
With millions of followers worldwide, Pokimane is also accustomed to online fame’s darker side. From doxxing (whereby one drops personal information online) to deepfake abuse, she is exposed to a plethora of threats that demand security to be a high priority.
“I have to take extra precautions just to be able to continue to do something I enjoy, It’s ridiculous that I need to pay that much just to feel safe in my home.”
She said.
So, where is that money going to? Pokimane has taken a series of security measures to safeguard herself, such as:
Address Protection – She employs professionals to browse and remove leaked addresses or personal information online.
Residence Renovation—She tends to remodel her houses to ensure that leaked pictures or old addresses do not match her new setup so that no one recognizes her house.
High-Security Living Situations—She prefers to reside in buildings with added security amenities, such as restricted entry and surveillance systems.
These efforts are not solely to uphold confidentiality; they are to protect her in a location where online attacks can occur.
Pokimane isn’t alone in dealing with such challenges, though fewer creators speak publicly about the cost of staying safe online.
“It’s not a question of locking up your home at night anymore; today it’s a question of making sure that your identity is not misused, that you can’t be located where you live, and that you’re not in harm’s way just for existing online.”
She said.
AI technology has also brought new challenges. Pokimane has also been dealing with deepfakes created using her face and voice without her permission. This is yet another concern regarding how public personalities, particularly women in streaming and content creation, get targeted in ways that previously didn’t happen a couple of years ago.
Pokimane’s situation reflects a more general problem—one that online personalities increasingly face: online security is more expensive and demanding of creators. Obviously, she is in a financial position to take such action, but not everyone is. She is hopeful that by sharing such stories, the industry can work towards offering more protections to online personalities who do not have such resources.
She continues to do what she loves, but not without significant investment in her safety.
“I just want to be able to create content and connect with my audience without feeling like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder,”
She said.
As the virtual realm continues to transform, so do the dangers, and Pokimane’s story reminds us of digital fame’s underlying price tag.
